Means to prevent taking of fraudulent impressions from value



l1g- 30, l932- w. H. WHEELER, JR., ET AL 1,874,074

MEANS T0 PREVENT TAKING 0F FRAUDULENT IMPRESSIONS FROM VALUE PRINTING DIES Filed Nov. 28. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Ll2' Aug- 30, 1932- w. H. WHEELER. JR.. ET AL 1,874,074

MEANS T0 PREVENT TAKING 0F FRAUDULENT IMPRESSIONS FROM VALUE-PRINTING DIES Filed Nov. 28, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 30, l1932.1 w. H. WHEELER, JR..ET AL 1,874,074

MEANS T0 PREYENT TAKING 0F FRAUDULENT IMPRESSIONS FROM VALUE PRINTING DIES Filed Nov. 28, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 vd t METER No. 0.00035 -Patented Aug. 3o, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE WALTER H. WHEELER, JR., AND JACOB W. OGDEN, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, AS-

SIGNORS TO PITNEY-BOWES POSTAGE METER CO., OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, A.

CORPORATION F DELAWARE vMEANS TO PREVENT TAKING OF FRAUDULENT IMPRESSIONS FROM VALUE- PRINTING DIES Application iled November 28, 1930. Serial No. 498,865.

The principal object of our invention is to prevent taking of fraudulent impressions from flat value printing dies such as are used on so-ca'lled machines for printing postage n or other value impressions, in which a number of prepaid imprints of postage, or other value stamps, have been made lawfully available to a licensed user; and from which die proper impressions are usually taken by l0 means of a flat impression platen. Where the printing elements in a die have to be assembled from non-printable positions to the impression point when assembled in the cycle of the operations a time arises wherein the die is completely ready to print. When this point is reached in each cycle of operations of the machine, it is ordinarily possible to stop, operating the machine, thus leaving the die exposed in position for printing, and in such case fraudulent imprints might be taken therefrom.

The value printing dies in the machines are of necessity exposed at openings in their housings or casings at the times of the impression operation in order that they may print on envelopes or other matter in the regular procedure.A And it is also advisable to have them sutliciently accessible to admit of their being cleansed when required to remove accumulations of ink, dirt and lint.

As these temporary exposures may furnish an opportunity for unscrupulous persons to obtain fraudulent impressions from the die,

Vit is highly essential to the success of the postage metering system to make it virtually impossible for fraudulent impression to be taken from the die.

Our invention thereforeprovides novel means especially designedfor use in such machines, to prevent a fraudulent impression being taken from a flat printing die. Our object is to provide means whereby regardless ofthe possibilityof stopping the operation of the machine with the die at the printing point, the interval of time inl which the die is available for printing will be so limited that only one imprint can be made from the die. Said means operating irrespective of the external operation of the machine to which figures representing the various ses lected values appear in the printed indicia; the only variation in the impression printed by the die being that of the value or amount.

An understanding of the invention illustrated willy enable others skilled in the art to adopt and' use the same, but we do not con- Sider the invention in its broader aspects restrieted to any particular form of construction of parts. The invention is capable of being embodied nism within the scope of the appended claims wherein we have summarized the essentials of the invention and also the novel combinations and constructions of parts for which protection is desired.

In the following description we refer to the matter to be printed by -the term "envelope which is used not in a limiting sense but as a generic term to include all kinds of matter which may be printed by such machine.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a meter of a postage indicia printing machine with the casing partly broken away and part of one of the counters removed to show the position of the die mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side'elevation of the meter, partly broken away, and showing a side view of the dievcontrolling mechanism.

in various effective mecha- Fig. 3 is a plan view of the die controlling mechanism detached from the meter.

Fig. 4 is a. side View of Fig. 3 showing the parts in position ready for operation of the die.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing the parts in position when the die cannot print.

Fig. 6 is an end view of 3.

Fig. 7 is a det-ail view showing the connections between the die and registering mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a face view of 'the die assembled, and

Fig. 9 shows the die disassembled.

We will describe the invention as applied to a meter which contains the main printing die, the value printing dies, and mechanisms by means of which the value dies-are adjusted and the amounts they represent recorded as they accumulate. All of these mechanisms being inaccessibly mounted within a housing which is sealed so as to .be inaccessible to unauthorized parties.

As in all metering devices of this class the meter is a detachable unit of a larger machine which furnishes the power needed, the mechanism for handling `the envelopes to :be stamped, and the controlling means by which the desired values .are selected. N one yof the foregoing mechanisms needs to be described in vdetail or illustrated herein as they form no part of the present invention and therefore will only be incidentally referred to as may be necessary to make clear the description of our novel die protecting devices.

The mechanism of the meter is mounted in a casing comprising a frame la, a bottom plate 1b, and a cover 1c. openings in the cover Lc `can be read the -ig-` ures on a balance recording counter ld and a total recording counter le. Access to the balance counter ld may be had only by an authorized agent through a suitably closed opening .in the casing so that its numeral wheels may be set up to agree with the value amount lof postage purchased. In the operation of the .meter the value of each .stamp as printed is subtracted from the initial amount paid for until it is exhausted; whereupon the meter automatically locks .and no more impressions can bemade..

The total counter le shows the total value of all the im rints made by the machine. It is inaccessible at all times and its numeral wheels cannot be reset, and it continues to accumulate values through the life of the machine.

The counter actuating mechanism is mounted in ia frame indicated at 2 in Fig. 2. Such mechanism being old in the art and not a feature of the invention a description thereof is unnecessary, except that V*in addltion te' the usual :counters a series of ligure printing wheels 3a are mounted which print# Through VglazedV ing wheels are operated by gear connection with the actuators which operate the counters. The mechanism for operating these wheels is not part of the present invention but preferably in the construction shown the printing wheels are mounted like counting disks upon a shaft 23 carrying a pinion 23a meshing with a sector 23h which engages a pinion 230, meshing with a 23d on the IShar-t of the balance counter ld, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 7 of the drawings.

Each printing wheel 3a has radial arms 3b upon the respective ends of which are engraved the figures 0 to l9. These arms are adapted to enter recess 31' provided in the main lprinting die 3 (see Figs. 8 and 9). A face view of such printing die is shown in Fig. 8. The die is adapted to print any design vof stamp-and any value of stamp. The design remaining the same but the value varying.

There are as many printing wheels 30; as there are columns of figuresin the value to be imprinted, i. e. one for units, one for tens, etc. The imprint given by the die includes an impression of the surface of the main die 3 with the various figures inserted in the body of the design by the arms 3b (see Fig. 8) The wheels 3.a are operated by the counter .actuators and will be shifted in accord` ance lwith selective means, .and the val-ue that they print will rbe recorded in the counters, such .means not forming .part of thepresent invention are merely graphically indicated in .dotted lines in Figs. 2 and The main die is made isn two .opposite .similar .parts which are separated .duri-ng the adjustment .of the tigurewheels 3a and only closed during .the short interval of time required to make the imprint. Normaliy the parts of the die are separated as shown in Figs. 5 and .9 so that any imprint that could bevobtained therefrom in such position would be so deformed that it would not be accepted as a genuine legitima-te stamp..

Each of the parts 3 of the die is pivoted itc the depending arms of pairs fof bell cranks 4 which are pivot-ed at 4a 11o-.opposite sides of the counter actuator frame Qand support and` operate the two halves ofthe die The two halves of the die i3 are normally held in open position 'by meansof springs 48 attached toy erate the bell cranks 4and cause the opening.

or closing of the die 3.

The slides are operated by arms V6 attached to a rocker shaft 6a mounted in frame 2. The free ends V'6b of arms 6 engage between projecting lugs .5b on the upper ends of theY slides 5. The rocking shaft 6a and the springs 4s impart motion to the slides 5.

When the meter or portable unit is in place in the machine (not sho-wn) connection is made between a slidable bar 7 projecting out of the meter and a slidable bar 100 in the machine. The connection between bars 7 and 100 is made by the hooked end of bar 100 engaging a notch 7a in bar 7 at the proper time, and when so connected bar 100 will pull slide bar 7 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, and cause the die to close ready for printing.

The machine to Which the meter is applied also contains a platen 101 which lies directly opposite the die 3 in the meter, and may be forced upward to cooperate with the said die to make an imprint on an envelope, or other matter placed between them. Both platen 101 and slide bar 100 are definitely timed to operate during each cycle of operations of the machine.

Upon the top of bar 7 near its inner end is mounted a slide 8. This slide 8 is provided with a stud 8c upon which is mounted a roller 8d. A tension spring 8s fastened to a lug 8e on slide 8 and to an adjacent iXed member tends to pull slide 8 in the direction of the arrow thereon.

A lever 10 is pivoted at 10a on the inner end of bar 7 and its lower end is normally held by a spring 10s against a stop pin 10b. Its upper arm is provided with a roller 10c and its lower arm projecting below the slide 7 35, has a boss 10d. The roller 10c of the lever 10 is adapted to contact with the roller 8d on slide 8, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and when these rollers are thus engaged the slide 8 will be forced to move with bar 7 and against the te-nsion of spring 8s.

The inner end of slide 8 projects beyond the inner end of bar 7 and has an inclined cam slot 8a through which passes a stud 13a fastened to the free end of the arm 13 which is in turn made fast to the rock shaft 6. Preferably the upper side of cam slot 8a is serrated as at 8b while the lower side is smooth. When the slide 8 moves inwardly (in the direction of the arrow Fig. 4) the stud 13a will slide in the cam slot 8a and be pressed against ,shaft 6, and the stud 13a will bear on the bottom side of the slot; but if, when the die is open, an attempt is made to close the die by forcing the two halves together, the conditions will be reversed and the stud 13a will then be forced against the upper side of the cam slot 8a (in the effort to move the slide 8 back against the pull of spring 8s) and the resistance of the spring and the angle of inclination of the cam slot plus the added resistance produced by the serra-tions 8b will render such an attempt futile.

On the lower side of bar 7 is a slide 9 which has a downwardly projecting lug 9b which is attached to one end of a contractile spring 9s which tends to pull slide 9 in the direction of the arrow thereon in Fig. 4. The piston rod 12a of a dash pot 12 is attached to the lug 9b of slide 9.

On the slide 9 is al lug 9a which is adapted to be engaged by a catch 11 pivoted at 11a to the bar 7 and which will engage a fixed stop 110,7 above the bar 7 when the bar 7 is drawn outward (see Fig. 4) in which position it is disengaged from the lug 9a. When bar 7 is moved inward (see Fig. 5) catch 11 is held against a stop 11b on the bar 7 by a spring 11s in which position it will engage with lug 9a. Upon the outward movement of bar 7, in theA direction of the arrow (Fig. 5) the catch 11 will engage lug 9a and mo-ve slide 9 with b-ar 7 against the action of spring 9s until the upwardly projecting arm 110 of catch 11 contacts with the pin 11d (made fast to a portion of the meter frame 1a) which arrests catch l1 and causes it to release slide 9.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows:

Normally the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 5 with bar 7 in its innermost position and the roller 10o on lever 10 in engage-.- ment with roller 8d and catch 11 engaged with lug 9a of slide 9. At the beginning lof an operation bar 7 is drawn outward and the catches 10 and 11 cause slides 8 and 9 to move outward with the bar 7. If the engagement of catch 10 and roller 8d holds to the limit of the outward movement of bar 7, the action of cam slot 8a on stud 13a will cause the closing of the die 3, as shown in Fig. 4 but if the engagement of rollers 10 and 8d is broken, slide 8 will immediately return under action of its spring 8s and the die 3 will be opened as shown in Fig. 5. This engagement is designed to be automatically broken by means of the slide 9 which is released from the catch 11 when the arm 110 of the latter is tripped by engagement with the pin 11d. When slide 9 is thus released it immediately starts to return, but its motion is made comparatively sluggish by its connection to the dash pot 12, but in a very short interval of time its lug 9b will strike the boss 10d of the catch 10 and cause it to release the slide 8. The release of slide 9 is timed to take place before the die 3 is completely closed and therefore still in position to give only a distorted imprint. The delayed action of the slide 9 caused by the dash pot, is introduced in order to give suiicient time for the bar 7 to finish its stroke and fully close the die, and for the platen 101 to rise and take an imprint from the die before slide 8 is released.

In the ordinary normal operation of the machine the slide 8 will probably never be released, as the bar 7 is designed to be quickly returned after the printing is done; but the fact that the spring loaded mechanism designed to open the die is set in motion before the die is actually closed,makes it impossible to stop the machine at any point where any other than a distorted print could be obtained from the dies.

We claim:

1. In combination; a printing die having normally separated parts, means for assembling the die parts during a single cycle of operations, means for taking an impression from the assembled die; and means inaccessible to the operator for so limiting the time of assembly of the die parts that only one im-v print can be obtained therefrom.

12.'.In mechanism of the character specified a sectional die, angle levers carrying the die sections, devices vfor loperating said levers, a

slide bar', and a member slidably-mounted on saidbaradapted toi operate the said` devices.

3. In a machine of the character specified having a .sectional die and means for moving the die sections together or separating same; a reciprocatory bar, a member mounted on the bar adapted to engage and operate the'saidl means, and trip mechanism operated by movementigfethe ;bar.wh;rebyi said member isreleased? cause-theseparation of the die sections vim `fedi-atelly.'follovving the taking of an impressi' ni-f Y, l

srnf lhe .character specified gie le'yersfcarrying said diei a sectional die memb'ersffanjd niiansl forioperatmg said angle' levers, a; reeiprbestory bar, 1a". member mount: edor-i vthe bar Ladapted to engage;V and :operate:

the diefseparatiing means and trip mechanism on 'the bar li'levhere'by.saidmeinber is. automatically' released 'to cause the. separation: of the die member immediately 'following the taking of an iI'nPSsionI...1A

inaccessible toi :thefop'erator whereby during any-cycl-e-of operatiens saidf preventing means' is rendered :inoperative for aile'ngth of Ytime sufficient to enable only-"one -imprint'to be made from the die.` c

7. In a device of the character described for printing value indicia; means for taking an impression therefrom,and timingtinean's, in;-V

accessible to' the. operator, whereby during Y:the character: specified having'a sectional die and means forim'ovingany cycle of operations onlyone imprint can be obtained.

8. In a device of the character described for printing value indicia; a sectional die; means for assembling the die sections at `the printing point, means for taking an impression therefrom, and timing means operating irrespective of the speed of operation of the machine whereby the time of the assemblage of all the elements in printing position is so shortened that only one imprint can be obtained therefrom.

9. In a device of the character described; a sectional printing die Whose parts are nor; mally separated, means for assembling they dieparts preparatory to taking an impression therefrom; and timing means whereby the as-`r semblage of the elem-ents of the die in print ing position is limitedto the obtaining of a Single imprint therefrom, the die parts being automatically disassembled when the time limit has elapsed.

l0. In mechanism of the character specified; a printing die having normallyseparat'- ed elements, means whereby during each cycle of operation of the mechanism the said elements are assembled and exposed at the printing point and timing means` inaccessible to. the operator whereby during such cycle when one impression has been taken the elements of thee dieare immediately disassembledbe:v fore asecond impression can be obtained therefrom; r

191. In mechanism of the' character-specie. iiedg'a printing die having normally sepa` rated elements, means Wherebyduring'eac'h cycle of operationA of the -macliine'V th'e ele' mentsofthe die are assembled and exposed-at the printing point to have an impression talren therefrom, and timing means inaccessible tothe operator whereby the elements of the die are disassembled when one imprint has been obtained therefrom regardless of the completion or continuance of the' cycle so that a second fraudulent impression cannot be obtained.

WALTER H. WHEELER, JR. JACOB W. OGDEN. 

